Wrap-around package and retainer member



June 24, 1969 I J. G RASER ET AL 3,451,543

WRAP-AROUND PACKAGE AND RETAINER MEMBER Filed om. 5, 1967 Sheet I of 2 I N VENTORS.

'EARL J. GRASEI? EARLE CSHERMAN BY fidf wdb ATTORNEY June 24, 1969 E. J. GRA SER E AL 3,451,543

WRAP-AROUND PACKAGE AND RETAINER MEMBER Sheet Filed Oct. 5, 1967 FIG-6 FIG-5 INVENTORSI EARL J. GRASER EARLE C. SHERMAN FIG-7 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,451,543 WRAP-AROUND PACKAGE AND RETAINER MEMBER Earl J. Graser and Earle C. Sherman, Monroe, La., assignors to Olinkraft, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 673,090 Int. Cl. B65d 71/00 U.S. Cl. 206-65 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a wrap-around package of the type having a sleeve-like wrapper encircling a plurality of similar articles disposed in rows in combination with a resilient generally elongate retainer member positioned between the rows, said member terminating at each end in a flared, arcuate structure having a surface partially encircling mating terminal articles in each row, said member being effective to retain the articles within the Wrapper and being further effective by virtue of its resilience to generate a hoop stress in the wrapper.

More specifically, this invention relates to a wraparound article package including a sleeve-like wrapper which, in one embodiment, may include two rows of like articles disposed in side-by-side relationship with a retainer member defining a flexible elongate body or strap positioned between the rows of articles where opposed ends of the body each terminate in a pair of springy, arcuate, tines or claws operative to encircle partially end articles in each row, the length of the strap and the arcuate contour of the tines is so selected that the tines encircling end cans in a given row must be opened or sprung slightly to receive the articles in a given row.

Thus, when the articles of a given row are operatively engaged by opposed tines, the springy and flexible nature of the tines and the strap place the articles of the row under a compressive stress.

When a given row of articles numbers three or more, the compressive stress will tend to cause central or middle articles in a row to move outwardly causing the row to tend to buckle away from the elongate body of the retainer member, thus placing a hoop stress in the wrapper encircling the articles.

Thus, the retainer member functions not only to retain the end article of each row when in the package, but also creates a tight wrapper as a result of the hoop stress developed by the buckling action.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be come more apparent from an examination of the succeeding specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical package embracing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the retainer member of FIG. 1 with the dotted line showing the tines sprung or in the operated position;

FIGS. 3 through 6 show several modifications of the retainer member; and

FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of a package with the retainer member of FIG. 3 in the operative position.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the letter S denotes a wrap-around package defining a six pack of cans C in rows A and B with three cans C in each row where both rows A and B are encircled by a sleeve-like wrapper W.

The reference numeral 10 designates a flexible retainer member having an elongate body 11 terminating in opposed pairs of arcuate tines or claws 12, 13, 14 and 16.

As is most apparent in FIG. 2, the radius of the tines 3,451,543 Patented June 24, 1969 is such that in the normal position it is shorter than the radius of the article (can C) to be encircled.

Thus, it is necessary to spring or flex the tines from the solid line position of FIG. 2 to the dotted line position thereof until the radius of the tine generally coincides with the radius of the end article.

As stated previously, this flexing places the can C under a compressive stress and causes the central articles in a given row, such as can 17, to move outwardly away from the elongate body 11 tending to buckle the row. Compare dotted line and solid line portions of can 17 in FIG. 2.

This buckling effect is desirable in that the Wrapper W, in binding the package together and in drawing the central articles back into alignment against the elongate body, as shown in FIG. 1, is placed under a hoop stress, thereby creating a tight package.

The Wrapper W is sometimes formed with cut-outs such as at 18 to receive a portion of an article to keep the rows of cans C (or other articles) in register relative to the wrapper.

FIGS. 3 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of the package and in particular an alternative embodiment of the retainer member indicated generally in FIG. 3 by the reference numeral 100.

In this embodiment of the invention, the tines 130, and are joined in pairs by a web 19. The web represents a design modification sometimes necessary in order to limit the flexibility of the tines.

In addition, the elongate body 110 is formed with article locating means defining short tubular elements 21 and 22. As is apparent in FIG. 7, the number of locating members bears a definite relationship to the number of articles disposed in a given row.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show further alternative embodiments of the retainer member. For example, in FIG. 4 the retainer member 200 is illustrated without the locating elements 21 and 22.

In FIG. 5, a transverse web 23 is coextensive with the terminal points of the tines 220 and 230.

FIG. 6 shows a tine structure in which one time 330' defines a cut-out from a companion tine 320.

It is anticipated that a wide variety of modifications and design changes may be devised in the retainer member per se or in the retainer member in combination with a sleeve-like wrapper without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, it is anticipated that the tubular locating members 21 and 22 of FIG. 3 may be elongated in a vertical direction and formed with a conical configuration to provide a means for controlling the vertical position of the retainer member when first introduced among the six articles disposed in two rows.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrap-around package comprising:

(a) a plurality of generally cylindrical articles disposed in at least one row in side-by-side arrangement;

(b) retainer means adjacent said articles, said retainer means including resilient terminal tines having arcuate surfaces engaging endmost ones of said articles to compress said endmost articles against intermediate ones of said articles to urge the latter away from said retainer means; and

(c) a sleeve-like wrapper encircling said articles, said wrapper being opeartive to urge said intermediate articles toward said retainer means thereby forming a tight package.

2. A wrap-around package comprising:

(a) a plurality of generally cylindrical articles arranged in two rows of at least three articles each;

(b) retainer means interposed between said rows, said retainer means comprising an elongate body portion having substantially parallel side walls adjacent said articles, said retaining means further including resilient terminal tines having arcuate surfaces compressively engaging endmost ones of said articles in each row thereof, said tines being operative through said endmost articles, to urge intermediate ones of said articles in each row away from said body portion; and

(c) a sleeve-like wrapper encircling said articles, said wrapper being operative to urge said intermediate articles toward said body portion thereby forming a tight package.

3. The package of claim 2, wherein said tines project outwardly through open ends of said wrapper to prevent said endmost articles from falling out of said wrapper.

4. A retainer member useful in a Wrap-around package containing rows of generally cylindrical articles, said retainer member comprising an elongate body portion having generally parallel side faces and terminating at each end in a pair of resilient tines having arcuate articleengaging side surfaces, the maximum distance between a pair of said arcuate surfaces extending from a common side of said body portion being less than the combined diameters of a row of articles to be packaged.

5. The retainer member of claim 4, further comprising locating members formed on said body portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 72,868,486 1/1959 Poupitch 24868 2,879,100 3/1959 Moore 294-872 3,135,445 6/ 1964 Reifers 206-65 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, 111., Primary Examiner. 

